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If you’ve been scammed in crypto, contact the exchange or crypto ATM operator that handled the transfer immediately, report the incident to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and the FTC, and preserve the transaction records and messages. Recovery is uncertain, but acting quickly may give a provider a chance to intervene. Do not pay anyone who unexpectedly promises to recover your funds.
This guidance is for people in the United States. If you are elsewhere, contact your local police, financial institution, and relevant regulator.
What to do immediately after a crypto scam
- Contact the exchange or crypto ATM operator. Use the provider’s official website or contact details, tell it the transfer was fraudulent, and ask whether it can stop or reverse it or refund you. Act quickly. Crypto payments do not have the same legal protections as credit and debit card payments, and it can be difficult to recover the funds. FTC guidance on cryptocurrency and scams.
- File a report with the FBI’s IC3. Submit what you know now; do not delay because you are missing a transaction detail. The FBI encourages people to report even if they did not lose money. FBI IC3 guidance for cryptocurrency scam victims.
- Report it to the FTC. Use ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC also identifies the CFTC, SEC, IC3, and the exchange used to send funds as relevant reporting channels for crypto fraud or suspicious activity. FTC guidance on reporting cryptocurrency scams.
- Preserve the evidence. Keep original transaction records and communications. Use the checklist below to gather details for your reports.
- Secure any account or device that may be compromised. Contact the exchange or service through its independently verified official channels. Do not use links or phone numbers supplied by the suspected scammer; exchange impersonation is a known risk. FBI IC3 guidance for cryptocurrency scam victims.
- Ignore unsolicited recovery offers. Do not send money or give identity or financial details to unknown people claiming they can retrieve your crypto. The FBI and FTC warn that such offers may be another scam. FBI alert on cryptocurrency recovery schemes; FTC guidance on refund and recovery scams.
What to include in an IC3 report
Provide as much information as you have, but file even if some details are missing. The FBI says not to wait for complete transaction information. FBI IC3 guidance.
- Wallet addresses involved and the cryptocurrency type and amount.
- Date and time of each transfer, plus the transaction ID or hash.
- How and where you first encountered the person, message, or offer.
- Messages and identifying details, including names, phone numbers, email addresses, and usernames.
- Website domains, app names, and platforms involved.
- Exchanges used to send or receive the funds.
- A timeline of events, including later contact from anyone claiming to offer recovery.
Can you get crypto back after a scam?
Possibly, but there is no guaranteed recovery process or assured outcome. A blockchain transfer may be difficult to reverse. Contacting the exchange or ATM operator promptly is still worthwhile, but whether it can act depends on the circumstances and the provider. Neither the FBI nor the FTC promises that reporting will return your funds. FTC guidance on cryptocurrency and scams.
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How to recognize a second recovery scam
Be especially wary of someone who contacts you unexpectedly, promises to get your crypto back, and asks for an upfront fee, identity documents, banking details, or supposed taxes or other charges. The FBI says fraudulent recovery businesses may take a fee, stop communicating, provide an incomplete or inaccurate tracing report, and then demand more money. Private recovery firms cannot issue legal orders to seize cryptocurrency. The FBI’s 2023 alert also states that law enforcement does not charge victims a fee to investigate crimes. FBI alert on cryptocurrency recovery schemes.
The FBI reported that victims lost more than $9.9 million to fictitious law firms that targeted crypto scam victims between February 2023 and February 2024. These firms allegedly sought upfront fees, identity or banking information, or purported taxes and other charges. FBI IC3 alert on fictitious law firms targeting cryptocurrency scam victims.
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If someone makes an unsolicited recovery offer, do not pay or share personal information. Report the recovery scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your state attorney general. FTC guidance on refund and recovery scams.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Reporting outside the United States
The reporting channels above reflect US federal guidance. If you live elsewhere, contact your local police, the financial institution or crypto provider involved, and the regulator responsible for consumer protection or financial services in your country. Reporting routes and the possibility of recovery vary by jurisdiction.
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